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Twillingate Sun
1883
March - April

March 2, 1883

For Sale

At Purcell's Harbor, A Trap Skiff, well built and is in good condition. Mrs. James
ANSTY

SUF Joe Batt's Arm

Joe Batt's Arm - Dear Sir: Will you kindly give space for the return of ""St.John's"" Lodge No. ll SUF Joe Batt's Arm and Barr'd Island, for the year 1883 - Viz No. on roll: 123, No in Red 17, No. in White 27, No. in blue 79, No. deceased 1, No. sick 2, No. withdrawn 2, No. rejected 1, The Financial Statement is as follows: Debits: To amount expended on Hall... £114,13s, 1p; Working Expenses... £0, 4s, 3p; Capitation Tax (two years)... £4, 10s, 0p; Mortality Money... £3, 5s, 4p; Balance in Hand... £50, 15s, 7p. Credits: By balance from Year 1881... £133, 6s, 8p; Income for year 1882.... £40, 1s, 7p. Total £173, 8s, 3p. Lodge met at new hall on the 17th January for the purpose of installing the officers for the year, Senior Past Master, Brother Rev C. MEEK, being present took charge of the Lodge for a short time and installed: Bros, John BRETT, Nathaniel BRETT, James LEWIS, Richard FENNEMORE, Absolam TREKS, Philip CURNEW, Secretary, and Joseph PEARCE, Treasurer. Committee: Bros. Charles BRETT, Chairman Jonathan BRETT, and Abraham TREKS, for Joe Batt's Arm; Brothers William GOODWIN, Ambrose COFFIN, and James JACOBS, for Barr'd Islands. Our Lodge has been doing good work since the foregoing returns were made out, having up to date initiated ten new members and passed about as many to the Blue degree. We had a march out on the last day of January which was followed by a tea for nearly 150 persons, and concluded with a Ball at night, discription of which I have no doubt you will receive from some other source. Thanking you for time and space and with kind regards. Yours very truly - Philip CURNEW, Sec.

Not an Opressor of Widows

Sir: In a recent issue of your esteemed paper, I read with much astonishment,
a letter signed ""Sun Eclipse"" and couched in such terms, that I must
conclude it refers to me. The letter accuses me of being avaricious and
to the ""Fatherless and the widow"", and of having written on to St. John's
for a position held by a lately deceased resident. I take this opportunity
to emphatically deny these statements. Shortly after my arrival at Leading
Tickles, I was deputed to fill the vacant position of Chairman of the
Road Board, as being the only competent person, (at least at the time),
willing and able to fill it. I never asked for the position, neither did
I curry favour with anyone to gain it. I have objected, and I object to
the situation of the Way Office. It does not facilitate business in any
way, but it is only from a business point of view I objected. I have no
private spleen or ill feeling towards any of the residents, and I happen
to know that the letter did not emaniate from anyone in Leading Tickles,
but from an adjacent Harbor, and I give "Sun Eclipse" this advice, that
in the future, please let honest people alone, and if he wishes to ""Eclipse""
himself or others, and not finding a subject for his able pen outside
of his own borders, please to take up a few of the grievances of his own
Port and give them a genteel airing through the agency of the press. I
am sir, yours &c., G.H.P. Feb 16, 1883.

March 9, 1883

Birth

On Feb 28th, the wife of Mr JACOB MOORS, of a son.

Died

On Tuesday last, 6th inst., after a lingering illness, Mr. James STUCKLESS, aged 82 yrs. His funeral took place yesterday from his late residence North Side, Twillingate. Mr. James STUCKLESS being an old and respected member of the North Star Division Sons of Temperence, the Society formed in procession at their Division Room at 2:39 p.m. marched to the late abode of deceased, and accompanied his remains to the place of internment as a last token of respect to their departed brother.

House Fire

Dear Sir: If you can find space in the Sun for the following you will oblige: On Feb 3rd, Mr John CURTIS's dwelling house at Brooklyn, Goose Bay was destroyed by fire. The soot in the stove pipes first took fire and ignited the roof which burst into a mass of flame. A strong North East breeze added to the consternation, and the flames soon did its destructive work. In ten minutes after the fire was discovered, it was impossible to enter the house, as fire and smoke were issuing from the windows and doors, all round the building, and in half an hour it was razed to the ground, leaving a hard working man and his family in very desitute circumstances, as the building and its contents were entirely destroyed. Great sympathy is felt for Dr. BROWN who was boarding in the house and who lost everything. We would respectfully appeal to a benevolent public on behalf of the sufferers. Gifts of blankets or money will be gratefully received.

The Cold Dip

On Saturday night (says Monday's Mercury, Feb 12,) the most intense cold known
here for thirty or fourty years, was experienced. The thermometer in exposed
areas stood at 14 or 15 degrees for below zero, and we are informed that
in Mr. DELANEY's observatory, the reading was 20 degrees below zero. This
intense cold was of very short continuance. We understand that on Thursday
night at Twillingate, the thermometer stood at 16 degrees below zero.
[Note: This is measurements on the Farenhite scale.GW]

Accident Pouch Cove

We regret to hear that a serious accident, but happily involving no loss of life, occurred yesterday at Pouch Cove, producing very severe injuries to an old and respected inhabitant of that place - Mr. Nathaniel WILLIAMS. While out shooting sea fowl, his gun burst, inflicting severe wounds in his arm. He suffered intense pain, the injured member being very much cut and bruised. He was attended to and the wounds bound up with all possible dispatch, but it will be some time before Mr. WILLIAMS will regain the use of his limb. - Mercury.

Leading Tickles, March 16, 1883. Dear Sir: Permit me through your [?] paper to
say a word with regard to the Way Office of this locality, which on account
of its being situated at the East Tickle, distance about two miles from
Leading Tickles, properly speaking any person a resident, would term it
the Way Office of New Bay, but it cannot be such, as there is an Office
at New Bay, only three miles from East Tickle. It may be necessary to
have a Way Office at the above named place, but if so, it is far more
necessary to have one at Leading Tickles, as the Office of the former
place is of no service to the latter, where there are three business establishments
and over 50 families in its vicinity, whereas East Tickle contains only
one business establishment and about eight families. Since the Seal Bay
Mine closed, great difficulties have been experienced with loss of time
and money to business men, in getting our mails from East Tickle, where
I have known them to be detained for a period of four days after its arrival.
The only means of reaching the Way Office is by going in boat, which is
often prevented by wind and sea."Sun Eclipse"" whose letter appeared in
your issue of Jan 17, must have known these facts, and that he was not
writing the truth when he said he did not see the need of a removal of
the Way Office. I coincide with Mr. G.H.P. in concluding that the statements
made by "Sun Eclipse" referred to him, which statements I can also deny.
Being a member of the Road Board, I am aware that at a meeting convened
for the purpose of appointing a Chairman, Mr. G.H.P. declined to take
that office, but finding no one else willing to accept it, he afterwards
submitted, and for which services the members were thankfull to him and
general satisfaction was [?] with the road money. The services of Mr.
G.H.P. in the different positions he has held since his arrival among
us, I can safely say has been fully appreciated by the people in general
of Leading Tickles, and I have reason to believe that he has the good
wishes of them all. Hoping that the Authorities will look into the subject
of our Way Office, and have it placed more in the centre of this locality,
and also that they may cause the Mail steamer to call here. I remain,
Sir, yours truly, An Old Resident.

Vessel Abandoned

A schooner belonging to W. Waterman & Co., left Leading Tickles for Nipper's Harbor on Sat 3rd inst., for the purpose of getting supplies for the ice. The schoonor being unable to get into Nipper's Harbor in consequence of it being filled with ice, lay outside at the edge. On the following Sunday the wind blew strong with snow drifts, when the schooner parted her lines and went adrift. The vessel at the time having but a small quantity of provisions on board, the crew (which numbered near 20) did not think it prudent to hold on to her, as there was great risk of their being driven to sea, so they consequently left her in their boats and nothing have since been heard of her. This vessel (we haven't her name) was quite new being built last winter. We understand she was insured in a Company in England. These are the facts as far as we have been able to glean them.

Weather

Since Monday last the weather has been unusually mild for this season of the year. The snow which has been fast disappearing before the genial rays of old Sol, has of late received an impetus from rain showers. The prevailing winds being Westerly has made the prospects of our landsmen having a ""haul"" of sea's[I think this is a misprint and likely should read ""seals"" GW] this spring anything but good; and it is the general opinion of experienced men that the ice is now 50 or 60 miles from land.

At Wild Cove, Moreton's Harbor, on the 8th inst., of brain fever, James , fourth son of Mr. Elias EARLE, aged 5 yrs.

April 6, 1883

Fire

On Thursday night, about 8 o'clock, a fire occurred in the house belonging to a man named MOREY. It seems that a quantity of hay was stored near the chimney, which was defective, and the fire burnt through, ignited the dry material and in a short time the building was wrapped in flames. No one appears to have been in the house at the time. The neighbors however, as soon as the alarm was given, made a strenuous effort to extinguish the flames, but without avail. The building was consumed with nearly all its contents. Although the Fire Brigade were promptly on the spot, yet they could do little except in the way of protecting a house near by, belonging to a man named Richard LUTHER, which was saved by being covered with snow. The other accident to which I refer took place on the South Side on Saturday morning. A woman whose name I may not mention, very discreetly locked her door and went out to a neighbour's leaving her three small children in the house. While taking a cup of tea with her friend an alarm of fire was given and rushing back to her dwelling she discovered one of the children, a poor little thing about two yrs and 6 mos, actually burnt to death. No doubt the house together with the other two children would have been consumed, only someone passing by, happened to hear their cries, and effected an entrance in time to put out the fire and save them.

April 6, 1883

Fire

At Black Island, on the 22nd Mar, the Tilt of Mr. William McCARTHY was destroyed by fire. About two hours after the occupants had retired for the night, Mr. McCARTHY thought he heard the crackling of fire, and upon opening the room door, found the kitchen all in a blaze. The only things that could be saved were the beds and bed clothes. If the inmates had been in a sound sleep it might have ended even worse. Besides some provisions, Mr. McCARTHY lost in the conflagration was all his fishing gear. It is thought the fire was caused by a hole in the side of the stove and some sparks must have got down in the seams of the floor. There being a can of kerosene oil near the stove added much to the rapidity of the flames.

The schooners Volunteer, S. WELLS, Rover's Bride, Jas RIDEOUT, and the Bellorophen, S. FOX, have sailed from the firm of W. WATERMAN for the icefields, during the week.

April 7, 1883

Sealing News

The steamer Ranger, Capt BARBER, on her way South, put in to Seal Cove, (Fogo), on Sunday last, for the purpose of righting her deck cargo, which had been shifted by the shipping of a sea a short time before. The Ranger was filled below, and 1800 on deck. The following are reported by her, as in the same ice and ""footing up"" for 107,000: SS Resolute, A. JACKMAN, SS Bear, C. DAWE, SS Neptune, S. BLANDFORD, SS Commodore, S. WINSER, SS Iceland, A. SMITH, SS Thetis, FAIRWEATHER; also a fore-topsail schooner, and a fore-and-after. The seals were struck on Good Friday, by Capt. JACKMAN, about 90 miles NE of the Barracks. This was four days before any other vessel. The Ranger reports meeting with no ice since leaving the ice holding the seals.

Schooner Picked Up

On the 26th of March, while the schooner Sunbeam, MURSELL Master, was lying off the White Islands, in the ice, the Master saw a vessel about two miles distant. Upon close scrutiny with the glass, no person could be seen on board. The Master then dispatched some of the crew for this vessel, which on their arrival proved to be the schooner Endurance, recently reported in our colums as abandoned off Nipper's Harbor. The Endurance, we understand, was not at all injured, notwithstanding her being at the mercy of the wind and waves for 22 days. Mr. MURCELL then put part of his crew onboard the abandoned vessel, and both left for home, arriving at Herring Neck on Monday last. Since writing the above, we have been informed that the Endurance will come to Twillingate for supplies, and proceed to Leading Tickles to ship her crew, and from thence to the ice.

Birth

At Purcell's Harbour, on Mar 15th, Mrs Philip ANSTEY, of a daughter.

Marriages

On Wednesday last at St. Peter's Church, by the Rev. R. TEMPLE, R. D., Mr Mark LUTHER, to Miss Matilda COLBOURNE, both of this town.

Marriages

At St. Andrew's Church, Brooklyn, B.B. , by the Rev. Theo. R. NURSE, Mr. Robert MILLS, of Catalina, to Mrs. Rebecca MOSS of James's Cove.

April 13, 1883

Death

On 27th Feb., at the Parsonage Greenspond, Henry Weston, and on the 7th March, Ethel only children of William and Margaret Ellen HOW.

Death

On the 8th inst., at Puebla, Colorado, of consumption, George Goodridge, youngest son of Henry EARLE, Esq, aged 26 yrs.

On 27th Feb., at the parsonage, Greenspond, the wife of the Rev. Wm. HOW, prematurely, of a twin boy & girl.

April 20, 1883

Memoriam

Died at Fogo, April 3rd., after a short illness of six days, Louisa Frances, much
deplored wife of Mr. PLOMER, aged 65 years. Mrs. Louisa Frances PLOMER,
a native of Lance Cove, Bell Isle, Conception Bay, was a long and highly
respected resident of Twillingate and Fogo, migrating to the former place
about the year 1835, and living in the family of Dr. TREMLETT, the then
medical practitioner at Twillingate. She married Mr. PLOMER in 1837 or
38. Removing from thence to England for 20 years she returned to Fogo
where she has since lived, spending the greater part of her time imparting
instruction to the rising generation. She was a Superintendant of Sunday
Schools for nearly 20 yrs when she was relieved by the writer, and for
the past 20 yrs a teacher of the Colonial and .... [a large section of
this article was lost in copying GW] ... It is also perhaps worthy to
note that by extraordinary frugality and self denial, she managed to preserve
about £200 put by in better days when her husband held a good suituation,
and even to add to it the sum of £230 of money and property from her own
small salary as School Teacher, together with other little earnings, and
is now bequated by her in the following remarkable and loving manner.
All remembered within two hours of her demise: To Mr PLOMER, in care of
her brother, £230. To four sisters each £10. To brother Geo HISCOCK of
Lance Cove, £10. To two half sisters and two neices, £5 each. To Rev.
C. MEEK and Dr. H. FINDLATER, £10 each. To Mr. STONE and Miss MEEK of
Bar'd Isl., £5 each. To God Children in equal shares, total of £20. To
Claude COOK and Edith MEEK, £10 each. To two nephews and Matilda CARTER,
£5 each. To Church of St. Andrew, Fogo, £10. To Church of Lance Cove,
Bell Isle, £10. To Cathedrel Completion Fund, St. John's, £10. To Mr.
MARRIOTT, St. John's for Church mission for Jews, £10. Funeral Expenses
etc., £25. Total of £450. The remains of the deceased was preceeded to
the grave by about fourty of her bereaved school children at their particular
request, and followed by thirty of the most respectible inhabitants of
Fogo, as mourners, Episcopalians, Dissenters, and Roman Catholics alike,
including a numerous concourse of all classes of followers."Verily she
has departed and her good works follow her." "M""

Birth

On the 13th inst., the wife of Mr. Titus LINFIELD of a son.

Birth

On Wednesday last, Apr 17th, the wife of Mr. W. T. ROBERTS of a daughter.

On Friday morning last, the 6th, a man named William SUPPLE belonging to the South Side, left home with his horse and slide for the woods for the purpose of procuring a piece of timber required by him in the construction of a boat. Not returning home at the usual time, his friends became uneasy and several of them set out to look for him, but they returned late in the night after a fruitless search. Next morning search parties proceeded to the woods in the direction he was supposed to have gone, and after a short time, the unfortunate man was found dead on a pond with a stick of wood lying across his neck. It is supposed that while carrying the piece of timber he slipped and fell and the stick falling across his neck caused his death. His head was imbedded in his frozen blood. His horse and slide were discovered a short distance from the body. Mr. SUPPLE was a hard working, industrious man and leaves a wife and children to morn their sad loss.

Honour Due

On Friday last, Master Willie BAIRD, while on his way home from school, picked up a half crown, which he promptly brought to us to see if we could give any information in reference to the losing of it. Upon being informed that we could not, he requested us to advertise it in the paper, which request we readily agreed to; but before going to press however, the loser of this amount was found and the sum handed over to her.

Schooners Lost

The schr. Abyssina belinging to Messrs. HODDER and LINFIELD, was lost on the 17th. while engaged in the seal fishery. The Abyssia was running through loose ice when she came in contact with a heavy pan, thereby damaging her stem and starboard bow, and filling with water within three hours after the accident. The vessel was, at the time, about 50 miles East of the Grey Islands. The Master and crew seeing no possibility of saving the vessel, took their clothes, some wreck gear, etc., and proceeded on board the schooner Flamingo, of this port, which was lying some distance from them in the ice. The latter vessel arrived in port on Sunday last, having on board the shipwrecked crew. The schr. Porcupine, YOUNG Master, brought into port on Sunday last, the crew and wrecked gear of the schooner Avalon, which was lost a short time since. The Avalon sailed from Random, Trinity Bay, early in March and succeeded in getting as far North as Belle Isle. She was afterwards driven South and was lost about 60 miles NE. of Cape St. John. She had no seals. We have also been informed of the loss of the Schr. Havlock, of St. John's. This vessel came to grief about 70 miles off Fogo, into which port the crew were taken.

Married

At Canning's Cove, Bonavista Bay, on the 16th by the Rev. Theo NURSE, Mr William CHATMAN, to Olivia, daughter of Mr. John LEDDON.

Died

On March 23rd, at Ridgeway Cottage, Ottery, St. Marys, England, Mr. Charles D. MAYNE, age 75 yrs. The deceased was grandfather of Mr. C. MAYNE of this town.

Sheep Killed

It was only this weekwe were apprized of the killing of four sheep by dogs at Wild Cove, although it is nearly three weeks since it occurred. Those fine sheep were the property of Mr. Frank ROBERTS of the above place, and were, as it was thought, safely sheltered in the fold. But those starving hounds, with which the community is infested, effected an entrance through the doorway, making wholesale slaughter of the helpless sheep. This state of affairs is certainly vert trying.....

A few days ago, three boys on their way back to school, and while crossing the Back Harbor Bridge, saw a very large shark in the water nearby. The youngsters, arming themselves with sticks, boldy made for the monster, and in a short but decisive encounter, sealed his fate. This being accompolished, they procured a slide and dogs to convey the carcass to their homes for further operations. On arriving there they deprived the body of the liver, which they rendered into oil, and when sold, returned them a shilling each. Of course the boys did not go to school that day, but returned home about 4 o'clock in the afternoon with a good supply of raisins, lickerish and tobacco, as the fruits of their heroic labors.

Perished on the Ice

On the 23rd of Feb. two young Englishmen went out shooting birds off Pass Island. The weather was moderate and the ice moved off from the shore. Shortly afterward, the wind freshened and it blew very hard, working up a storm from the NE. Nothing has since been heard of the unfortunate young men who are supposed to have perished on the ice. - Mercury.

Contributed by George White (2003)
March 2, 1883 to April 27, 1883 Transcribed by George White and Wanda
Cole

Page Revised by Craig Peterman (March 2003)

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